More research on the mysterious decline of bee populations, called colony collapse disorder, has been published in the recent issue of the journal Science, and points to another possible pesticide connection that may shine light on the cause of the devastating phenomenon.

More research on the mysterious decline of bee populations, called colony collapse disorder, has been published in the recent issue of the journal Science, and points to another possible pesticide connection that may shine light on the cause of the devastating phenomenon.

While many theories exist, a definitive culprit has not been identified as to what exactly is the cause of bees dying off or abandoning their hives in record numbers. Among the theories are mites, parasites, viruses and fungal outbreaks, as well as the proliferation of genetically modified seeds and pesticides.

The two studies published in Science, one conducted by a team in France and the other by UK scientists, both point to a group of pesticides called neonics (or neonicotinoids). The experiments found that the pesticides contributed to a type of brain fog that interfered with honeybees’ abilities to make their way back home to the hive, and bumblebees exposed to the pesticide were incapable of producing enough food to support new queens.

Neonics are applied to seeds, and are absorbed throughout the plant, where they linger in pollen and nectar that is eventually eaten by insects. Once in the insect, the pesticides attack the nervous system and often lead to death. Bayer manufacturers the neonicotinoid treated seeds, including corn, soy, wheat, cotton and peanuts. More than 140 million acres of treated seeds were planted in North America in 2010, and show no plans of slowing down, despite urging from the scientific community in light of the recent research.

Previous studies, including one published in January by researchers at Purdue that found a connection to colony collapse disorder and Bayer’s clothianidin, have pointed at the increased use in commercial and home-garden pesticides as a major link in solving the problem.

As pollinators, bees play a crucial role in our agricultural food system, including the production of nuts, fruits and some vegetables.

Eleven thousand U.S. farmers celebrated victory as word came that they will receive a settlement of $750 million due to crop drift from Bayer's genetically modified LibertyLink rice that contaminated their crops in 2006.

Eleven thousand U.S. farmers celebrated victory as word came that they will receive a settlement of $750 million due to crop drift from Bayer’s genetically modified LibertyLink rice that contaminated their rice seeds in 2006.

Bayer’s CropScience division partnered with Louisiana State University to breed a strain of rice that would be resistant to Bayer’s LibertyLink pesticide. The GMO rice strains were found in non-GMO long-grain rice grown throughout Southern states including Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. In one of the biggest cross-contamination accidents in history, more than 30 percent of U.S. rice crops were tainted and became unsellable, causing market prices to drop nearly 15 percent and resulting in profit losses of an estimated $150 million for the farmers.

The GM rice led to a significant drop in exports around the world, including sales to the European Union, where genetically modified foods are banned in all countries but Spain.

As lawsuits starting coming in, Bayer denied its testing program had been the cause of the contamination and maintained its claim that there was no human health risk to anyone who had come in contact with the rice.

A spokesperson for Bayer CropScience said the company acted responsibly handling the LibertyLink rice, and, “considers it important to resolve the litigation so that it can move forward focused on its fundamental mission of providing innovative solutions to modern agriculture.”